[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (KD) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]
1
PETER 1:18-19
"Knowing
that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from
your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the
precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."
I
am unworthy of God's grace. If God strikes me dead tonight, God is still good
and merciful! But that Jesus died for me, I am worth more than any other
created things of the universe.
Since
I have already been bought by the blood of Christ, I will never be cast away, I
will never be forsaken, and I will never be given up. Even if I fall, I will
never be utterly cast down!
And
I will be perfected and will love God perfectly someday!
1
PETER 2:20-21
"For
what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it
patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is
commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:"
In
suffering, Christians do not question (in rejection) the love, goodness, power,
or the fairness of God. But we ask God for help and strength to go through!
A
plain truth to be reminded of again and again!
I
PETER 3:12
"For
the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their
prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
This
is quoted from Ps.36:15-16. Since I am righteous in Jesus Christ, God's care,
favor, and comfort are with me.
When
unbelievers are prospering, and when we who believe in His name are struggling
even for a living, it's not pleasant to swallow the fact, but the Lord's eyes
are upon me. Life and Death, Fortune and Misfortune, Success and Failure,
Wealth and Poverty, everything come from God.
The
great one is not because of himself, nor the lowly one is because of
himself. God is Sovereign!
1
PETER 4:3
“For we have
spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we
walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and
abominable idolatries.”
—Enough is Enough—
I
grow up hearing parents yelling to children, teachers to students, oldies to young,
"Enough is enough!"
Well,
Peter is telling us here again, "Enough is enough!" We have had
enough of sin in our life. We all are Ph.D. in sin. We are genius in sin. Like
a master serial killer, we can get away with it without being confronted or
caught.
Peter
wants us to give up, not waiting to be confronted, because no matter what
"new" sin we may be enticed with, all sins are the same, enough is
enough! Indeed, sin is wearisome.
Each
time I woke up late, it was because I thought, I still needed a little bit more
sleep. Yielding to sleepiness, when I should be up and practicing spiritual
discipline, was easier, looked sweeter momentarily, but later on, the day was
already spent, the guilt and tension kicked in because of the pending works.
"Enough
is enough" is something I have been preaching and must continue to preach
to myself!
I
PETER 5:4
"and
when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does
not fade away."
This
promise in the context is for the pastors. But every Christian will receive a
crown of glory. I think even a last-minute convert will receive a crown of
glory because though God rewards us according to our works, He rewards believers
exceedingly more abundantly than we can or have ever imagined.
But
our attitude and the atmosphere of heaven are not like in the world. In this
world, we would like to kiss the trophy, cherish our certificates, and treasure
them as souvenirs. In heaven, we will not cherish the crown itself, but the
giver. In fact, we will not keep the crown for ourselves even for a minute, we
will lay down our crowns at the feet of Jesus and will proclaim Him Lord of
all, and give Him all the glory! (Rev. 4:10-12)
What
a joy to think about this! 😇